Fifth-wheel



EIETE WHEEL. No. 267,558,

Patented Nov, 14, 1882.

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WWVE EE .447 ATTORNEYS,

UNITED STATES PATENT JOHN MEETER, OF ELIZABETH, ILLINOIS.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 267,558, dated November 14, 1882.

Application led April 8, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN' MEETER, a citizen ofthe United States, resident of Elizabeth, in the county ot' Jo Daviess and State ot' lllinois, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Fifth-NVheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ot` the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part ot' this specitication, and to the letters and tigures ot' reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation ot' a front view of my improved fifth-wheel, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view ofthe same.

This invention has relation to fifth-wheel connections; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In theaccompanying drawings the letter A designates the lower plate ot' the fifth-wheel, having the horizontal flange-bearing B`4 resting on the upper surface of the axle-bed O, and the vertical Harige-bearing D extending downward in t'rout of the axle-bed vand axle E. In the vertical Harige-bearing D is formed a vertical socket, a, the opening of which extends through the center ot' the lower plate. Clips F serve to secure the horizontal flange B irmly to the axle'hed and axle.

G indicates the reach, and H the head-block under the front spring, K.

L represents a T-t'orm plate having the end ot' its transverse head b secured to the headblock and front spring by the clips N. The stem o of the plate L extends under the end ot' the reach and is firmly secured thereto. The t'ront portion of the plate L is formed with barrel-lugs d, longitudinally arranged in line with the stein and on the under side, as shown in the drawings. f

P indicates the upper plate or section of the ttthwheel, designed to tit neatly on the lower plate, A, on which it moves with a circular motion, being pivoted thereto by means ot' the holt-stem e, which extends downward from its center through the vertical socket a ofthelower plate, below which the threaded end g of the bolt-stem is provided with a securingfnut, h. l he upper surface of the upper plate, I), is beveled on each side from the central bearings, k, and the barrel-lug d, which is connected to the barrel-lugs cl ot' the plate L by means of the horizontal pivot-bolt z. In this manner a strong connection is effected between the bearing-plate of the spring and head-block andthe upper iifth-wheel plate or section, whereby a certain amount ot' vibration is allowed to the axle without affecting the front spring, which tends to preserve the steadiness of the box or body ot' the vehicle in passing over uneven roads.

V indicates a double pivoted brace, the upper and rear end, m, of which is pivoted to lugs at the rear end of the supporting-plate L by a horizontal pivot-bolt, c, and the t'ront and lower end ot' which is pivoted on the lower end of the vertical bolt-stem e below its socketbearing.

An improvement in attachments for carriages, wagons, Sto., consisting in pivoting the bolster-plate to the bolster-pin, in combination with a pivoted brace, the latter being connected to the coupling-poles and axle, has been used prior to my invention, and I do not broadly claim such a construction herein. Furthermore, the front axle of a carriage has been connected to its axle-bed by means of a clip having a circular recess in its upper end to receive a collar on the king-bolt, the head ot which is hinged to a metallic portion ot' the head-block for the purpose of keeping the body ot' the vehicle in a horizontal position, and 'I do not lay claim to this construction.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

In a fifth-wheel, the combination, with the T-shaped supporting-plate under the headblock and front spring, provided with the barrel-lugs d d, and the lower lit'th-wheel plate, A, having the vertical socket-bearing a, of the upper filth-wheel plate, I?, having barrel-lug d', and stem e, the bolt z, and pivoted brace c,

substantially as speciiied.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN Mauren.

Witnesses:

JonN Q. ROBINSON, THOMAS B. BRAY. 

